Back home – Perth, Western Australia; The Hardware Store – Brighton Cafe and Eatery

The Hardware Store is one of my favourite places to eat. I have not had an evening meal here but have covered most others several times.

The vibe here is contemporary and trendy. Not pretentious but fun. The water jugs are watering cans. The cutlery is housed in toolboxes, and the sauces in an old fruit box. The staff are young and friendly and do their job well. The food is delicious and brought quickly and with a flair for decoration. The fresh fruit juices are served in the currently fashionable jars with handles.

The building is part of a group of shops which has been in Brighton Road Scarborough for probably more than 50 years. This particular space was – along with the now Patisserie next door, a hardware store for all of that time before it became a cafe.

It was a terrific place with the owner, knowledgeable and with all the stock required. You could come to him with a nail, screw or piece of tubing and he would say – which tray it was in or take you to it. The doorway which has now been bricked up, took you through to the paint section. The original floor has been covered by aged wooden floorboards which rises up in a ramp at the doorway beside two walls covered with white tiles – the style (subway tiles).

The tables are too high, I always get sore shoulders writing here, and I like to write here. There are pallets on top of regular tables, with a sheet of glass on top. They look great, but they are too high. In between the wood panels of the pallet the menus are stored.

The choices are fresh and interesting. My favourite is the smashed avocado. Will see if I can get it for lunch today. Fingers crossed. But if that is not available the Zucchini and Sweet corn Fritters are beautiful – it’s the tomato salsa that makes that dish.